Washington unemployment rate drops to 9.1 percent

Published 10:00 pm, Monday, March 14, 2011

February's jobless numbers are in for Washington, with state officials reporting the unemployment was 9.1 percent - slightly better than the January's 9.2 percent figure.

Overall, the state added 800 jobs in February, according to the Washington State Employment Security Department. The construction industry added about 3,900 jobs, government 1,700, leisure and hospitality 1,600 positions. But positions in the retail sector were down 1,500, wholesale trade 1,400 and the financial activities area lost 1,300 jobs, according to the state.

There were about 341,000 people who were unemployed and trying to find work in February. Those are not seasonally adjusted figures.